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Brief Introduction
3 Brief Introduction
The following chapter is an introduction to the most im-
portant ¸HMC8012 multimeter features and settings
allowing you to use the measurement instrument promptly.
A more detailed description of basic operating steps is gi-
ven in the manual.
3.1 Setting Parameters
Each function and operating mode of the multimeter can
be selected with the keys on the front panel of the instru-
ment. Use the respective function keys to select basic func-
tions such as voltage, current or resistance measurement.
Advanced functions are managed by use of soft menu keys
to the right of the display. Pressing the SHIFT key activates
the numeric keypad.
3.2 Measuring a Direct/Alternating Voltage
An example for a basic measurement that can be per-
formed with a multimeter is the measurement of a DC
voltage, for instance. The following measurement example
shows the individual steps to perform this measurement
effectively with the ¸HMC8012. A DC power supply
unit, e.g. the HMP2030, is used.
To measure a DC voltage, you can connect a power sup-
ply unit to the ¸HMC8012 multimeter via silicon test
leads, for instance. Use the COM and V connectors on the
bottom right. Once the DC V key on the front panel of the
instrument is used, the DC voltage value will be shown on
the multimeter display.
The measurement of alternating voltage applies the same
principle. In contrast to the DC voltage measurement, the
AC voltage measurement requires the use of the AC V key.
Please note that for an AC measurement, RMS values will
be shown on the display.
3.3 Automatic / Manual Selection of the Measure-
ment Range
You can use the soft menu keys Range Up or Range Down
to switch the measurement range. Pressing Range Down
will switch to the next lower measurement range, pressing
Range Up will switch to the next higher measurement
range. The automatic selection of the measurement range
(Auto Range) is deactivated.
If the function Auto Range is activated, the measurement
instrument automatically selects the optimal measurement
range. If the selected measurement value is too great while
the manual selection of the measurement range is activa-
ted, the message OVER RANGE appears on the display.
3.4 Displaying Several Measurement Values
If you would like to view a second measurement value on
the display, select the soft menu 2nd Function and select
a second measurement value via knob. In the current ex-
ample, the second measurement value could be AC V. The
second measurement value (2nd) will be displayed in blue
above the display of the main measurement value (Main). If
you select the option None via knob, the second measure-
ment value will be deactivated.
3.5 Resistance Measurement with Zero Point
For the resistance measurement, connect measurement
cables with clamps to the respective connectors on the
front panel of the instrument. A two-wire measurement
only requires the COM and V connectors. A four-wire
measurement also requires the LO/HI connectors (SENSE).
After connecting the cables and connecting with a resis-
tance, press the Ω key. The resistance value will show on
the display. During a resistance measurement, the cable
resistance (cable offset) requires particular attention. Espe-
cially for small resistances which may be close to the cable
offset it is recommended to zero the measurement section.
A zero measurement is also called a relative measurement,
i.e. each measurement value indicates the difference bet-
ween a saved zero value and the input signal.
In this case it is necessary to short circuit the measurement
cables and then press the NULL key. This triggers the offset
correction of the entire measurement section. This value
will be shown on the display below the main measurement
value. The line resistance of the measurement cable, con-
tact resistances and thermoelectric voltages between diffe-
rent metals have been intentionally eliminated by this offset
correction. The compensation values will not be stored
after the ¸HMC8012 has been switched off and have to
be redetermined.
3.6 Statistic / Measuring Limits
In addition to the basic functions of the multimeter, ma-
thematical functions are also available. These can be ac-
cessed by pressing the MEAS key on the front panel of the
instrument.
The soft menu Stats allows the user to activate individual
statistic functions (Min/Max, Mean, StdDev, Pk to Pk,
Count). Use the soft menu key STATS to activate (On) or
deactivate (Off) statistic values. The statistic functions will
be displayed below the main measurement value. You can
use the soft menu key #MEAS. to determine how many
measurement values are to be included in the statistic. You
can select the number of measurement values via knob
or via numeric keypad. If #MEAS is set to „0“, the statistic
will be performed on all measurement values. If #MEAS is
set to „7“, for instance, the statistic will be performed on 7
measurement values. The soft menu key Reset resets the
statistic.
The soft menu Limit allows you to select the High Limit
and Low Limit for a measurement. Based on these limits,
a test can be evaluated as passed or not passed. The
limits can be activated (On) or deactivated (Off) via soft
menu key LIMITS. The limits will be displayed below the
main measurement value. If a value is exceeded or falls
